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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. bound — certain
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stand — to bear
  6. wake — a trail
  7. season — of the year
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. bound — tied together
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. season — in sport
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rush — hurry
  21. cue — a hint
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. bulb — for light
  24. arm — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com